Doctors often come across patients who complain of problems with the feet. And this is correct, because human health in general depends on the health of the feet. The most common complaint is an unpleasant sensation in this area, which may have several reasons. But most often people are concerned about the ankle hygroma.
It is worth understanding the problem in order to conduct the correct treatment. What is hygroma? This is a cartilaginous neoplasm located in the joint bag or on its lateral parts. It looks like a small bump, tight to the touch, but painless. Hygroma removal is often carried out by dissection and curettage to exclude the malignant course of the disease. After surgery, part of the biological material is sent for histology.
What is hygroma?
Hygroma is a benign cystic formation consisting of serous fluid covered with a dense membrane. Its contents are presented in the form of mucous mass and fibrin protein, and in its consistency it resembles jelly. Mostly this pathology is located near the ankle joints.
Most often, this disease occurs in women. Hygroma can cause discomfort, making it impossible to lead a normal lifestyle. Moreover, pathology can provoke the development of other serious and dangerous diseases. Therefore, it is very important to be able to identify the hygroma and timely contact the clinic for help. Although she herself does not pose a particular danger, she will eliminate the need for surgical intervention.
Causes
The most obvious causes of the appearance of a tumorous body within the ankle joint are:
- Use narrow squeezing shoes.
- Increased load on the arches of the foot.
- Professional injuries - dislocations, subluxations, sprains, tears.
- Intensive strength training. Pressure on the ligaments, tendons, and joints leads to microdamage that can degenerate into benign tissue joints.
- Genetic factors. Failures in the work of metabolic processes are also of a genetic nature. If in the family (close relatives) there are problems with the absorption of phosphorus or calcium, lactose intolerance, hormonal imbalance, mobility of the bone-cartilage tissue of the joints, there is a high risk of developing hygroma, other forms of underdevelopment of the skeleton and skeletal muscles.
Symptoms
Ankle hygroma at an early stage is difficult to determine because there are no obvious specific visible changes. But still, the following symptoms can be distinguished:
- upon palpation of the tibia, the formation of a round shape is felt, soft enough, elastic, elastic;
- constant growth of compaction;
- the hygroma has clear contours;
- the skin does not change, have a natural color;
- with a shift of the skin over the hygroma, there is no pain, since it is not associated with external skin tissues;
- the formation is motionless, as it is connected to the internal tissues of the joint;
- hygroma does not cause pain.
Signs of late stages
If timely treatment is not carried out, then the hygroma increases to a sufficiently large size and can reach eight centimeters in diameter. This leads to more severe symptoms in the later stages of the disease:
- pain
- deformation of the lower leg;
- education becomes visible with the naked eye;
- fluid is felt in the seal;
- integuments become dense and rough;
- redness may appear. The intensity of the manifestation of certain symptoms depends on the size of the hygroma and on the general condition of the person.
Diagnostics
The formed hygroma of the ankle joint is visible immediately, but only an experienced doctor can correctly diagnose the problem. That is why doctors recommend contacting specialists immediately if a swelling of the foot near the joint is detected. Each orthopedist will say that timely treatment of ankle hygroma will save you from a ton of potential problems.
Diagnostics is performed by a number of methods. First of all, the doctor checks the presence of the hygroma tactilely - feels the foot, in other words, performs palpation. This is the oldest and most conservative diagnostic technique, the accuracy of which cannot be fully relied upon. Today, there are a number of improved ways to detect ankle hygroma : ultrasound, x-rays, and MRI. The last examination is prescribed in the presence of special indications.
Ultrasound accurately shows the size of the tumor and composition, and an X-ray makes it clear whether the bone tissue has been damaged. Magnetic resonance imaging is used to identify nodes. Without the correct diagnosis, it will not be possible to choose the right treatment, so doctors are strongly advised not to engage in independent attempts at diagnosis and, especially, treatment.
Operation as the most effective method of getting rid of hygroma
Treatment of hygroma with surgical intervention gives the most effective effect. It involves the complete removal of pathology with minimal risk of re-occurrence. The disease may not manifest itself for a long time, until the appearance of a tumor, which causes discomfort and a restriction in wearing shoes.
An operation of the hygroma of the ankle joint (removal) is prescribed in such cases.
- After repeated occurrence as a result of drug treatment.
- With a rather impressive size of the neoplasm.
- If the usual treatment did not bring positive results.
- The occurrence of pain when wearing shoes and walking.
- The manifestation of inflammatory processes.
- With a limitation of the motor properties of the joint.
- If there are more than one entity.
- If the appearance of the lower extremities is associated with professional activity.
- Immediate surgery is required in cases where the hygroma begins to grow very rapidly.
Such a phenomenon as a hygroma of the ankle joints in a child causes pain, since deformation of nerves and blood vessels is possible. This factor can greatly complicate the operation, because at the same time the risk of a violation of nerve tissue increases. This can lead to paralysis and a partial or complete lack of sensitivity. The operation can be performed under local anesthesia when the tumor does not have large sizes and complications. Otherwise, even if one of these factors is present, general anesthesia will be required, and the patient must be placed in a hospital.
Operation
First of all, a tourniquet is applied to the sore leg so that the blood does not saturate the tissues, after which an anesthetic injection is made. The foot is fastened and treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. Only after this, the surgeon can begin to remove the hygroma. It is important not to miss anything and completely remove all the liquid so that not even a drop remains, as this can lead to re-illness.
After the successful removal of all particles, the cavity is thoroughly washed with special solutions, a drainage gum is installed, and then sutured. This will reduce the risk of inflammation by allowing fluid to drain from the operated area. Then a tight dressing is applied to the patient. Drainage must be maintained for at least a day, and in some cases more. After examining the doctor, the drainage ring is removed, and the wound is treated with antiseptic drugs and a dressing is done. If there are no difficulties, then after a week the stitches are removed.
Which method is better?
A large number of people who are faced with a hygroma, sooner or later have a desire to once and for all get rid of such an aesthetically unattractive problem. Surgery is considered the most effective method to get rid of such formations. However, for various reasons, not all patients decide to lie under the surgeon’s knife to get rid of this defect. In such circumstances, patients should try a medication method of treatment, which sometimes can successfully cope with hygroma. It is used in case of inflammation, which leads to compression of surrounding tissues. This occurs only with inflammation of the joint cavity. Therefore, for a successful struggle, it is worth determining what kind of formations these are: purulent or non-purulent.
Drug treatment
It is worth knowing that only for non-purulent inflammation, medication can be used. Purulent inflammation in any case should be removed immediately on the surgical table. The use of antibiotics as the only medication for purulent inflammation is completely unacceptable. Their use is possible only after surgery to combat the remaining infection.
Alternative treatment
Hygroma, and if simpler, a lump located in the ankle joint is a benign formation. A lump of serous fluid is collected under the skin, which can be seen very or not very much (depending on the stage of the disease) from the outside. It is worth noting that in terms of development, the disease is very long, and the symptoms will begin to appear only with the formation of a hygroma.
It is quite difficult to treat ankle hygroma without surgery, just because the long development process allows the cone to “strengthen”, so it is difficult to get rid of it. Most often, a cardinal method of treatment is proposed - surgical intervention with subsequent therapy, but sometimes such manipulations are undesirable, especially if the hygroma does not have time to grow rapidly. In such cases, they often resort to traditional medicine, sometimes in combination with medication.
In folk medical practice, there is a huge variety of creams, ointments, infusions and decoctions that will help recover from this rather unpleasant disease. The main thing is to notice the development of the lump in the first stages, then all the manipulations will be most effective. Three main procedures from traditional methods, which will certainly be of use, are presented below.
Applying an alcohol compress
You need to purchase disposable napkins that completely cover the hygromic zone in size. Then they should be impregnated with alcohol with an indicator of 70% and attached to the problem place. Of course, you will have to sit for a long time, from 2 to 3 hours, you need to cover your leg with something warm, a towel is perfect. It is important to monitor sensations because sensitive skin can react to alcohol with an allergy. If you feel a burning sensation, itching and other signs, then you need to quickly remove the bandage and rinse your leg. You should not cancel the procedure, just before the next time you need to use alcohol in a mixture with water.
Honey compress
Many, to relieve pain, resort to constant injections of pain medication, sometimes they take pills, but there are so many drugs in the treatment, and in order to rid the body of the extra load, it is worth recalling the recipe for a honey compress. Before going to bed, it is necessary to grease the limb profusely with ordinary honey, then wrap it in polyethylene and apply something warm on top. During the night, it will be possible not only to dull the pain, but also to notice that the inflammation has become many times less.
Cabbage leaf
Who would have thought that ordinary cabbage leaf helps in the treatment of such diseases. The ancestors thought of this method and used it everywhere without using handfuls of pills. Of course, modern medicine has gone far, but even the drug course can be supplemented with a very effective folk remedy - cabbage leaf.
First you need to thoroughly wash the sheet, then beat it (but not tearing and not turning into porridge). Juice will be visible on the surface, in it you need to thoroughly moisten the sheet and apply it to the sore spot, fixing it with an ordinary bandage. You need to sit longer with such a compress, but you should not move, straining your leg, so the ideal time is still night.
Such simple but effective methods were invented in ancient times. They have a positive effect even now, in the age of advanced medicine. But do not forget that neither alcohol, nor honey, nor cabbage can radically change the picture, especially if the formation in diameter is already more than 3 centimeters. Basically, the methods are aimed at analgesia and relieving inflammation, therefore, in matters of resorption of the cone and other things, you need to adhere only to the recommendations of a specialist.